Founder and Director

Phoebe worked in schools for several years before setting up The Bridging Project in 2019.

It was Phoebe’s experience in schools that inspired her to set up the organisation, in order to address the injustices faced by many pupils who, often against all odds, get a place at university only to face a multitude of challenges.

Phoebe is a certified coach and in 2020 Phoebe was awarded the Shackleton Leadership Award for social entrepreneurship.

Co-Founder

Polly has over ten years of experience in the voluntary sector, primarily working with grant-makers to raise funds for organisations including Mencap and Place2Be. With a Postgraduate Diploma in Grantmaking, Philanthropy and Social Investment from Cass Business School, Polly has a wealth of expertise in fundraising, strategic planning and business development. Polly has used her expertise to set up The Bridging Project and establish our advisory board. She now supports The Bridging Project in an advisory role.

Head of Development at Chefs in Schools, Polly is using her love of food to improve the health of future generations.

Programme Manager

Elle has been working in the mental health charity sector for the last four years, supporting service users and implementing services. Elle also has experience managing and delivering youth and community programmes that support young people from different backgrounds to build skills, connect with others, challenge themselves, and transition into adulthood.

Elle has a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology and believes that coaching is an empowering way for students to develop their skills, increase their confidence and wellbeing, as well as realise and achieve their full potential.

Comms Freelance

Rhea has over ten years of experience in the marketing, comms, design and PR space, supporting both large and small businesses and charitable organisations in increasing awareness and ensuring messages are communicated effectively.

Rhea has a degree in Marketing and is a qualified coach, using her skills as one of The Bridging Project’s volunteer coaches.

Susanna is the Chair of The Bridging Project and driven by how strategy, research and evaluation can support the delivery of impact and social change.

She has spent her career in the third sector working on issues of equality. Her current role at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation leads the evidence and impact approach to two health programmes: childhood obesity and air pollution.

Passionate about education and the Governor of a local school, she’s delighted to bring her expertise to the Bridging Project to support young people to thrive at university.

Richard is The Bridging Project’s founding board member. He has worked in education for thirty years, in various leadership positions and in a range of schools.

He strongly believes that young people should be supported to ensure they can make the most of their skills and talents, regardless of background.

Am is currently the Head of External Affairs and Engagement at the Cabinet Office. Prior to joining the Cabinet Office, she worked for a number of organisations and charities championing the rights of young people; from NUS to NCS Trust.

A fierce advocate for equality throughout her career, she has developed and delivered national training on privilege, which she is currently delivering across the Government Communications Service; and worked on embedding inclusive practices in events.

In her spare time she is the co-founder of Social Supper Club London, a zero-waste dinner club raising funds for Refettorio Felix, a London charity supporting vulnerable, homeless people and those at risk of homelessness. Am is also a mentor for Apprentice Nation.

Mark's career has been as a university teacher, researcher and administrator. With twenty years’ experience of direct responsibility for students' academic life and welfare, he knows the crucial importance of working with individual young people and at a strategic and institutional level to make their transition from school to higher education as good as it can be. But he also knows there is more work to be done, and is thrilled to support the Bridging Project.

Mark is a Fellow in English at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2012, Jo has spent most of her career in the media sector, with a focus on deal making, investment and portfolio management.

Jo is experienced in supporting both large and smaller organisations in using robust financial and strategic analysis to drive decision making and business planning. She currently works as Director of Corporate Development for ITV Studios, ITV's production arm.

Jo is excited to bring her financial and commercial experience to help the Bridging Project thrive.

Eleanor is an experienced commercial and charity lawyer. She trained as a solicitor at a magic circle law firm before joining the corporate world as an in-house lawyer where she handled a challenging and wide ranging portfolio within a global team.

In 2018, Eleanor moved into the charity sector by joining the governance, legal and compliance team at Teach First, an educational charity that develops and supports teachers and leaders in schools – and is currently senior legal adviser there.

Eleanor believes strongly in the power of good education to reduce differences in opportunity and is excited to bring her legal, corporate and charity expertise to support The Bridging Project.